COPENHAGEN- A 79-year-old traveller accidentally boarded a Ryanair (FR) flight to Bologna, Italy, instead of an easyJet (U2) flight to Berlin, Germany, at Copenhagen Airport (CPH) last week.
The passenger discovered the error only after landing in Bologna and seeing welcome signs for the Italian city.
Photo- PexelsRyanair Passenger Boards Wrong Flight
Swedish tabloid Expressen reported that both airlines operated flights from the same gate, creating confusion for the old passenger.
The passenger explained they followed airport screens directing easyJet (U2) passengers to Berlin toward the designated gate and joined a queue of waiting passengers.
Cirium’s aviation analytics data revealed that between May 19 and May 25, Ryanair (FR) operated 6 departures to Bologna while easyJet (U2) scheduled 16 flights to Berlin from Copenhagen (CPH).
The overlapping schedules occurred on six days of the week, increasing the potential for passenger confusion.
Flightradar24 records showed that on May 22, Ryanair flight FR2676 departed Copenhagen (CPH) for Bologna at 10:40 local time, while easyJet flight U2 5266 to Berlin was scheduled to depart at 12:55 but actually left at 14:01.
Photo: Ryanair | Wallpaper FlareSecurity Concerns
The passenger expressed uncertainty about how the mistake occurred despite showing their passport and boarding pass to airline staff.
No crew members detected that the traveller had boarded the wrong aircraft or airline.
Airport security experts noted that such incidents create potential safety risks if passengers with malicious intent exploit similar boarding process weaknesses.
Ryanair (FR) staff offered the stranded passenger transportation to Venice, Italy, where he spent the night at a hotel.
The traveller subsequently boarded a flight from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to Berlin on May 23, finally reaching his intended destination of Berlin (BER).
Venice Airport; Photo- WikipediaSimilar Incidents
Recent court cases demonstrate ongoing challenges with unauthorised aircraft boarding. Judge Ann Donnelly of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York ruled on May 20 that a Russian immigrant violated federal law by stowing away on a Delta Air Lines (DL) flight.
The defendant successfully bypassed TSA checks at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on November 26, 2024, by entering through an airline employee line with an Air Europa (UX) flight crew.
Delta (DL) agents failed to request the individual’s boarding pass or passport before they boarded flight DL264 to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
Flight attendants discovered the stowaway during the transatlantic journey after requesting documentation. French authorities arrested the individual upon landing in Paris (CDG) and returned them to the United States, where they admitted to the unauthorised travel.
Photo: By JacobAviation – Own work | Wikimedia CommonsBottom Line
These incidents highlight systemic vulnerabilities in airport boarding procedures that affect both accidental mix-ups and intentional security breaches.
Airlines continue evaluating gate management protocols to prevent similar occurrences while maintaining efficient passenger processing.
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